# Soup to nuts

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-to-nuts/1049>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [June 30, 1999, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-to-nuts/1049 "1999-06-30T03:03:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 1999, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-to-nuts/1049/1 "1999-06-30T03:03:00Z")

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The Latin expression meaning “from soup to nuts” was _ab ovo usque ad mala_, “from eggs to apples”.

{ Edit by Board Moderator: the link to the original Mailbag article is [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msoupnut.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msoupnut.html) }  
[Note: This message has been edited by CKDextHavn]

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 1999, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-to-nuts/1049/2 "1999-07-18T19:24:00Z")

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Actually the phrase derives from waiters who used to work in mental institutions and at mealtimes would be serving soup to …

Oh, why do I bother … 😉

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Saint Eutychus  
[www.disneyshorts.org](http://www.disneyshorts.org)

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**Author:** ![B.G.Kimball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@B.G.Kimball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.G.Kimball)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 1999, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-to-nuts/1049/3 "1999-08-06T21:34:00Z")

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It was in the NYT crossword about a week ago, Maybe the tribs. Didn’t get it then, don’t get it now.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 1999, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-to-nuts/1049/4 "1999-08-06T23:42:00Z")

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Look it’s perfectly simple. What is wrong with you people. Back in the early 19th century formal meals were several hours long, lavish affairs with scores of courses and dozens of servants. The first course served was soup. Thus “From the first course…” = "From soup… " = “From the beginning.” After all the other courses were served the servants would come out and STABALLTHEGUESTSWITHGREATLONGSHINYKNIVES!  
“TAKETHATYOUFATSWINE”!  
ANDTHROWPLATESANDSLICETHEDINER’SEARSOFF!  
“YOUGREATGREEDYGREASYSWINE”…  
you’re right Euty they just don’t get it.

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Signitorily yours, Mr John  
" Pardon me while I have a strange interlude." -Marx

[Note from CKDextHavn: Mr John’s original note had all that stuff in upper case with no spaces; it was causing scrolling problems, so I have edited in a few spaces in hopes that solves the problem.]

[Note: This message has been edited by CKDextHavn]

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**Author:** ![Big\_Iron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Big\_Iron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Iron)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 1999, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soup-to-nuts/1049/5 "1999-08-07T08:13:00Z")

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[[Actually the phrase derives from waiters who used to work in mental institutions and at mealtimes would be serving soup to … }} Eutster  
Kliban’ll get you for that … 😉